Directive on Summorum Pontificum confirmed

"It is true, we are writing a document-instruction on the correct interpretation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum which has liberalized the Mass according to the liturgical books of Saint Pius V, as modified by Blessed John XXIII." Thus says Monsignor Camille Perl, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, in an exclusive interview to Petrus, who adds: "Though not a Congregation, we have been granted the faculty to prepare this note for the definition of some aspects of the Papal Motu Proprio as, for example, that of the stable group. We will thus clarify what is understood as stable group, how many people should precisely ask their Parish Priest to celebrate in the pre-Conciliar rite."

Monsignor Perl, the instruction is due to the several objections raised by Bishops and Priests opposed to the new rules of access to the Mass in Tridentine Rite?

"The situation is under the eyes of all. Regardless of that, after the Pope's Motu Proprio, it was legitimate to expect contrasting reactions. Some have expressed enthusiasm, some have not. Nevertheless, it is enough to recall that the Motu Proprio did not come down from heaven, but is the result of a long path."

Tip: Anonymous reader.RECESS for a few days: relevant news may be posted at any time.

Interesting, and less then thrilling, that Perl is using the "stabiliter" rather than "continenter" version. If they hold stabiliter as the proper form, the MP is a dead letter, as Bishops can understand these groups to have had to pre-exist. If they allow that continenter is the proper form, the MP has a future, because it allows groups to emerge. we shall see. This issue is the nexus of the whole ballgame.

As to the USCCB, I understand that Cardinal Georgs is next in line, though the difference it will make if the MP is quashed is negligible, I think. Not trying to be pessimistic here, just politically realistic.

George is the next in line for presidency of the USCCB itself, but next in line for the USCCB liturgy committee is Serratelli of Paterson, who has written several very strong pieces on reverence and the Mass, etc. There is hope with him in charge of the liturgy committee.

I'm always admirative of the refined diplomatic style of Msgr Perl. He could serve in the secretariate of State.

"stable group" is just one issue and I would say not the most important at stake.Pressures from bishops upon pastors, pretentions of bishops to "certify" priests for TLM, pretentions of bishops conferences to forbid article 10 etc. These are much more important.

Interesting, and less then thrilling, that Perl is using the "stabiliter" rather than "continenter" version.

Can we be sure he meant "stabiliter"? This is an English translation of an Italian news report. In Italian, Msgr. Perl said, "ad esempio, quello del gruppo stabile. Dovremo cioè chiarire per gruppo stabile cosa si intende, . . ." That needn't mean that he is working from the earlier "stabiliter" version of the Motu Proprio rather than the "continenter" version that was released on 7 July.

You forget that the MP can say "stabiliter" and that the Pont. Com. Ecclesia Dei can clarify that "stabiliter" can mean a group formed in the future.

With all due respect, I think it is bad hermeneutics to believe that it all depends on that word. The interpretation of the document must take into account the ethos of the Pope's cover letter:

"...but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them..."

"...generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows...".

Also, the very fact that the Missal of 1962 was never abrogated, and that it is, as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, one of the expressions of the Church's liturgical prayer, is incompatible with the idea that groups should have been formed beforehand, and that no new stable groups can be formed after the MP. This would lead, in time, to the extinction of stable groups, and to the extinction of the use extraordinary form. This is totally incompatible with the idea that this form of the Mass is not an old form replaced by a new one, but instead an expression of the roman rite that was never abrogated. Summorum Pontificum is not a mere indult. The extraordinary form is not an exception meant to die out over time, as the above quotes show.

As the Pope points out, the extraordinary form is here to stay:

"What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place."

There is another point that is perplexing: Perl use the expression 'how many people ask to own parish priest'. There is a misunderstanding: 'coetus' is very different from parishioners. For example, in a city there is thirty people who want the LM, but they live in different parts of the city (and then they belong to different parishes)... However i'm italian and the interview was in italian: Perl used 'stabile' that meants 'stable'.

Italian priest spoke about intimate relations with other men on TV program

Associated PressUpdated: 7:13 a.m. CT Oct 13, 2007 VATICAN CITY - An Italian monsignor was suspended from his position at the Holy See after the cleric said in a television interview he “didn’t feel he was sinning” by having sex with gay men, the Vatican and news reports said Saturday.Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi told journalists that while the case was under investigation the monsignor was suspended from his job as a top official in the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy, an office which aims to ensure proper conduct by priests.“The case is being handled with utmost reserve,” Lombardi said.Office recognizedA private Italian TV network earlier this month broadcast a program in which some priests were interviewed about their homosexuality, which Vatican teaching holds is a sin.The men, including the monsignor who was suspended, were interviewed with their faces obscured and their voices altered so they would not be recognized. But Vatican officials recognized the Vatican office in which he was being interviewed, Rome daily La Repubblica reported on Saturday.The monsignor during the interview said he “didn’t feel he was sinning” by having sex with gay men, La Repubblica said.The Vatican did not name the monsignor, who is Italian."

Interesting Cardinal Pell has just approved the nomination of a priest as his auxiliary bishop. Our Cardinal did not know the priest wears leather and goes to gay bars. (Fr Bray)Some were wondering how he even got on the list of candiadates.Its all about to go pear shaped.This is an area that needs reform. No one should be in the clergy who accepts promotes or practises homosexuality.